An Embarrassment of Riches

The seasons are changing in the Bluegrass State. Cooler night time temperatures are the norm now. Kentucky’s archery deer and turkey seasons are in full swing. The first official day of autumn is less than a week away.

Fall is my favorite time of the year. The changing colors of the leaves stir mixed emotions. October is my absolute favorite month but also one of my most confusing. Bow season is in full swing and I love to be in the woods with my longbow and cedar shafted arrows, chasing whitetails and turkey. I go as often as time allows, which is quite a bit considering my office is in my house and I am my own boss.

October is also catch and release trout season in 14 streams across the Commonwealth. The chance to chase rainbow and brown trout is difficult for me to resist. The 4 weight fly rod in its case in the corner beckons me often. I can wake before sunrise drink a cup of coffee and both the longbow and the fly rod both call out to me. I am sure to disappoint one of them.

On occasion I take them both. One of my favorite trips is in the Clifty Wilderness section of the Red River Gorge. Sleeping in a tent, into the woods with the bow before daylight pursuing the game. Back to camp for lunch where I string up the fly rod and cast a dry fly with a nymph on a dropper trying to entice the streams trout. Back to the woods in the evening, hunting till dark. It truly is an embarrassment of riches.